On Thursday, Phillip and I rented a car and headed out from Melbourne to meet William Martin and see his garden–Wigandia–in Noorat, Australia. Before we got to Noorat, we lunched with William in Camperdown and a conversation (or several) ensued–photographed by Phillip. That plant behind us is the eponymous Wigandia caracasana. (William, correct me if I’m in error.)
For me, this visit was an experience of legend.
(Well, William has a better version of this shot!)
A post on Wigandia, the garden, will follow after our travels are over.
You look like old gardening buddies! If I scroll down the page quickly, I can almost hear you two talking. Well done, Phillip.
Michael,
It wasn’t just pleasant. It was exciting and a lot of fun to finally meet Billy. And though he says Wigandia probably has not been more stressed than now by drought and heat, it was beautiful. An eye-opening experience I’ll not soon forget.
James
How very good, after all this time, the connection’s been made real. Obviously, there’s alot you have to say to one another. There will be many more conversations between you I hope.
Faisal,
Our personalities are very different, and manifested very differently in the world, but deep down I feel a similarity of spirit.
James
That giant verbascum looks like a candelabra. It would fit into Federal Twist.
Tony,
You’re so right. It looks exactly like the wild verbascum so that pop up in my garden.
James
Cripes! This was shot in a garden i designed for the local municipal authority (Corangamite Shire) just 20 months ago. It is a garden for the staff and i am not sure if they actually use it! BUT James and I had a fine chat on my Conical Frustum based seat..the slab of timber is Californian Cypress!
Of all the people I have wanted to chat to for years the day did not pan out as planned..we arrived at my blot on the landscape as they should have been leaving! They were spared my legendary (some say otherwise) 5-6 hour tours………… lucky chaps!
I am looking forward to the wee article i arranged (an action packed visit!) for fun and posterity in the local newspaper ”Camperdown Chronicle” next week i think! Last time we met in ink was the ”New York Times” ..my how we travel! Tally Ho!
Billy,
The sun was so blazing and almost directly overhead. My pics are really bad. I hope to rescue some.
The Drover’s Dog
To clarify, I refer only to the pics of the Corangamite shire garden. Wigandia photos are turning out quite well.
http://williammartinswigandiaagardenofthesun.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/mr-james-golden-and-philip-called.html
Nice bench and overlapping rebar barrier!
Cindy,
Yes, Billy does interesting work with rusted rebar and gabions. I’ve been trying to use rusted construction fencing in my garden, and I have new ideas.
James
Brilliant.
Thanks, Rob.
thanks to Phillip, this is almost like meeting face to face.
You look very happy!!
Thanks, Judy. I was.
Yep, there’s our Billy, holding forth! Happy times….
Anne,
Had you been there we’d have had a lively discussion.
James
I imagine! Shame I was stuck over here…
Thanks for sharing some garden nerd conversation scenes (English mixed with botanical Latin?), as I ponder what was said. The warm weather looks nice, too…
David,
This is a garden I believe you would love.
James
It looks like an animated conversation between like-minded gardeners! Love the giant verbascum. Looking forward to seeing the next post.
Thanks, Lynda. Yes, quite animated. Breathless because time was so short.
James
I hope you have both recovered from you journey to the Antipodes!
We need a caption contest for this post. Looking forward to reading more of your adventures, James!